The clients wanted a pool inspired by nature, and they got it. Irregular bluestone is mixed with vintage bricks that were unearthed when Michael Inzerillo’s crew was digging the foundation for this vinyl-liner pool. Hand-chiseled bluestone coping that was radiused and flamed on-site brings a custom polish to the natural materials.

A waterfall of Pennsylvania moss rock, steppers, river bottom rock and lava rock gives the impression that the pool was “carved into a small hillside,” thanks to a custom-built berm that brought a gentle slope to the flat yard. But the natural look isn’t everything; this suburban Manhattan pool also has a tiny set of custom-fabricated steel steps so the homeowner’s small dog could get and out of the water independently.

Mixed Textures

The key to this design, Inzerillo says, is the varying textures. The rough rocks of the waterfeature combined with the smooth deck and manicured turf provide excitement and contrast to the eye. “A customer has to not only see a site, but want to touch it,” Inzerillo says. Nearby, a 180-square-foot stucco and cedar cabana that matches the main house provides a changing area, outdoor shower and bathroom.